Nature Themed Snack Ideas

Celebrate Food Day by introducing your students to healthy nature themed snacks today and throughout the school year. These “recipes” are from Growing Up WILD and Environmental Experience for Early Childhood. If you are interested in getting trained in these materials, contact our program.

No-Cook blender applesauce

6-7 small apples

½ cup sugar or honey (optional)

dash of cinnamon

2-4 tablespoons of water

Peel and cut apples. Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth.

Ants on Log

Spread cream cheese on a carrot stick, celery stick or pretzel log. Put a row of raisin ants on top.

Spider Crackers

Spread a round cracker with cream cheese or other spread. Place another cracker on top, creating a sandwich. Tuck pretzel sticks into the edge of the sandwich to make 8 legs. Use a small amount of spread to attach eight sunflower seed eyes and another larger round cracker for the abdomen.

Dippin Bears

Mix one 8 ounce container of plain yogurt and 2 tablespoons of fruit preserves in a small bowl for dip with bear-shaped graham crackers.

Tuna Boats

Make “boats” by cutting tops of whole wheat rolls and filling with tuna salad. Add a cheese triangle “sail” with a toothpick.

Beach Snack

Pulse granola in a food processor until it looks like beach sand. Sprinkle a layer on the bottom of a clear cup and add a layer of blueberry yogurt. Add a gummy fish for a fun surprise.

Pretzel Poles

Use pretzel sticks for fishing poles and bean spread or cream cheese for bait. Have children “fish” for fish-shaped crackers.

Earth Tone Animals

Cut animal shapes out of pie dough. Sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar before baking.

Track Crackers

Spread softened cream cheese or hummus onto whole grain crackers. Arrange small strips of carrot, red pepper, or chow mein noodles on each one to resemble a bird track. Use raisins to create a cat track.

Rice Cake Owl

Spread cream cheese or other spread on a large rice cake. Add two banana slices for eyes and two raisins for pupils. Place a triangle of cheese under the eyes for a beak.

Deer Sandwiches

Cut small sandwiches in half diagonally. Orient the sandwiches so that one of their points faces “down” and becomes the deer’s noses. Press raisins into the bread for eyes and a nose. Add pretzel sticks for antlers.